Should you run WordPress on managed hosting or on a VPS? Both work — but they suit different needs. Here's a practical comparison and a simple rule to decide.
The core difference
- Managed WordPress hosting is a ready-to-use environment: the provider runs and secures the server, and you work only on your site. You trade control for convenience.
- A VPS gives you a full server with root access. You control everything — OS, PHP, web server, caching — and you're responsible for maintaining it.
Head to head
| Criteria | Managed WordPress hosting | VPS |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Minutes, one-click install | You configure the stack |
| Server maintenance | Handled by the host | Your responsibility |
| Root / SSH access | Limited or none | Full |
| Custom software | No | Yes |
| Scaling | Change plan | Resize resources, tune the server |
| Best for | Most sites, non-sysadmins | Developers, custom needs, scale |
When managed WordPress hosting wins
Choose it if you want to focus on your site, not your server. It's the right fit for:
- Blogs, portfolios and business sites
- Small to mid WooCommerce stores at moderate traffic
- Anyone who doesn't want to patch a server or debug PHP versions
You still get NVMe storage, free SSL, backups and one-click installs — see Infrawire's WordPress hosting, from €1.99/month.
When a VPS wins
Choose a VPS if you need control or headroom:
- Root/SSH access to install custom software or tune the stack
- Multiple sites or apps with dedicated, guaranteed resources
- High or spiky traffic that outgrows a shared plan
- A staging/production workflow you fully control
Infrawire's WordPress VPS runs the same NVMe + Ryzen hardware with full root access — and a plain Linux VPS is available if you want to build everything yourself.
The simple rule
Start with managed WordPress hosting. Move to a VPS when you hit a wall — a resource limit, a need for root, or custom software. Most sites never need to make the jump; the ones that do will know exactly when. Don't pay for (or maintain) a VPS you don't yet need.
FAQ
Is a VPS faster than managed WordPress hosting?
Not automatically. A well-tuned managed plan on NVMe + fast CPU often beats a poorly configured VPS. A VPS is faster only if you (or your host) optimize it well and give it dedicated resources.
Can I move from managed hosting to a VPS later?
Yes — migrate your site (files + database) to the VPS. Plan a short maintenance window; see migrate WordPress without downtime.
Do I need to be a developer for a VPS?
Effectively yes — you'll manage the OS, updates and security. If that's not you, stay on managed WordPress hosting.